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By James Gardner

Clark County Public Library

This Tuesday, October 1 is not only the official start of Spooky Season for some people (my spooky season tends to start in August), but it’s a great day for fans of tacos and Taco Tuesday! National Taco Day is not only falling on a Tuesday this year, but it will from now on fall on every first Tuesday in October. 

According to the National Day Calendar website, “The odds of moving a National Day is a rarity. In fact, it only happened one other time for Checkers and Rally’s on National French Fry Day. In an effort to set things right, Taco Bell worked tirelessly with the powers that be, in this case National Day Calendar, to move National Taco Day to a Tuesday.” Such a quote speaks to the power of corporations, but Taco Bell’s influence on Taco Tuesday goes much deeper than trying to influence a calendar website.

Wikipedia, the purveyor of both American folklore and esoteric television shows, tells the story of the term. The term “Taco Tuesday” was once owned by the fast food chain Taco John’s, who were granted the trademark for the term in 1989, nearly a decade after they began using “Taco Tuesday” in their promotions. Fast forward a few decades later to 2023, basketball star Lebron James began using the term on his social media to profess his love for tacos and actually tried to purchase the trademark for the name, which didn’t happen. Taco Bell eventually got involved when they asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the trademark, letting everyone, especially Taco Bell, get to use Taco Tuesday. 

Taco Bell was correct in saying, in their legal argument, that the term Taco Tuesday “should be freely available to all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos.” And I agree, Taco Bell. I totally agree.

For I have devoted significant writing to different food-related holidays, my love of these holidays aren’t just about the food. In my many decades of life and of eating, I have seen how food can bring people together, whether it’s a church potluck or family dinner on Sundays. Some of my favorite meals are those where I talked about how my kids were doing or asked others how this taco-filled journey called life is treating them. Like many things about life, food is best when it’s shared and if Taco Tuesday or French Fry Fridays helps people get together, I can get behind the idea whether or not it came from Taco John’s or Taco Bell. 

So enjoy your Taco Tuesday, everyone. Share those tacos with people you love. And after your tacos, come check out these programs:

On Tuesday, October 1, at 6 p.m., Classic Sci-Fi Cinema presents a haunted classic from the 60’s directed by William Castle, the famed director, producer, and shameless promoter. A family inherits a house with 12 ghosts who want a 13th. No special glasses required. Popcorn and snacks provided. 

On Wednesday, October 2, at 2 p.m., the Kentucky Picture Show presents a 1998 supernatural story starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Two witch sisters (Bullock and Kidman), raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love. Popcorn and snacks provided. 

From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, the library will be having Adult Storytime. Just in time for Halloween, the library invites you to sit, enjoy some snacks, have some fun, and listen to some classic and contemporary spooky stories being read aloud. Feel free to bring your favorite short story to read and share with others. Saying “Trick or Treat” is allowed but there will be no smelling of feet. 

This Saturday, October 5, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the library invites you to Shred It! in the Clark County Public Library parking lot. Do you have personal papers, receipts, or bills that need shredding? Shred-It of Lexington will be here with a truck in our parking lot to shred your papers; no 3-ring binders or plastic bags please. Clark County residents may shred up to 5 boxes (approximately 24X12X12) for free. This is offered through a community partnership with Community First Insurance Agency located at 103 N Main Street.